In home wi-fi channel scanning enhancements

ABSTRACT

A system, such as a gateway, is provided for use with a first access point device and a second access point device to scan channels within a spectrum of channels. The system includes; a delegating component that is operable to instruct the first access point device to monitor for a presence of a signal on any one of a first set of channels within a spectrum of channels and to instruct the second access point device to monitor for a presence of a signal on any one of a second set of channels within a spectrum of channels; a communication component operable to receive a channel-in-use signal from the first access point device and to transmit a notification signal to the second access point device based on the channel-in-use signal, the channel-in-use signal being associated with an in-use channel of the first set of channels within the spectrum of channels, the communication component is additionally operable to transmit the instruction to the first access point device and the second access point device, the communication component is further operable to receive a communication signal from one of the first access point device and the second access point device as a result of the transmission of the instruction; and a load balancing component operable to determine a communication volume on each of the first set of channels within the spectrum of channels, and to generate an instruction to instruct the first access point device and the second access point device to not use the in-use channel.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to devices and methods of using anetwork access device or system, such as a gateway, with multiple accesspoint devices.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure are drawn to a system and method for agateway or other network access device, and multiple access pointdevices to monitor available radar frequencies.

An example aspect of the present disclosure is drawn to a system, suchas a gateway, for use with a first access point device and a secondaccess point device to scan channels within a spectrum of channels. Thesystem includes a delegating component, a communication component, and aload balancing component. The delegating component is operable todelegate the first access point device to monitor for a presence of asignal on any one of a first set of channels within a spectrum ofchannels in a radar band of IEEE Standard 802.11h and to delegate thesecond access point device to monitor a second presence of a secondsignal on any one of a second set of channels within the spectrum ofchannels in the radar band of IEEE Standard 802.11h. The communicationcomponent is operable to receive a channel-in-use signal from the firstaccess point device and to transmit a notification signal to the secondaccess point device based on the channel-in-use signal, thechannel-in-use signal being associated with an in-use channel of thefirst set of channels within the spectrum of channels in the radar bandof IEEE Standard 802.11h. The load balancing component is operable todetermine a communication volume on each of the first set of channelswithin the spectrum of channels in the radar band of IEEE Standard802.11h and the second set of channels within the spectrum of channelsin the radar band of IEEE Standard 802.11h and to generate aninstruction to instruct the first access point device and the secondaccess point device to not use the in-use channel. The communicationcomponent is additionally operable to transmit the instruction to thefirst access point device and the second access point device. Thecommunication component is further operable to receive a communicationsignal from one of the first access point device and the second accesspoint device as a result of the transmission of the instruction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part ofthe specification, illustrate example embodiments and, together with thedescription, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional wireless communication system;

FIG. 2 illustrates the operation of the conventional wirelesscommunication system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates the operation of the conventional wirelesscommunication system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a wireless communication system in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example method for using a gateway to controlmultiple Wi-Fi access point devices in accordance with aspects of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates the operation of the wireless communication system ofFIG. 4 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded view of the gateway of FIG. 4 inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates an exploded view of the Wi-Fi access point device(APD) of FIG. 4, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;and

FIG. 9 illustrates the operation of the wireless communication system ofFIG. 4 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

There exists a need for a system and method for a network system, suchas a gateway, and multiple access point devices to monitor availableradar frequencies.

An end-user can buy Wi-Fi access point devices (APDs) (i.e., a Wi-Firouter or a Wi-Fi range extender) from a retail market. The end-user maythen use one or more Wi-Fi APDs to provide access to a Wi-Fi networksystem, such as a Wi-Fi network gateway.

This disclosure describes systems and methods for using a system, suchas a gateway, with multiple Wi-Fi APDs.

One prior art method for using multiple Wi-Fi access points to provideaccess to a network gateway. In the prior art method, an end-user willpurchase and configure multiple Wi-Fi APDs that are operable to provideaccess to a Wi-Fi network gateway. The Wi-Fi network gateway controlseach Wi-Fi APD using a home network controller (HNC) along with a MultiAP Protocol (MAP).

IEEE 802.11 is a set of media access control (MAC) and physical layer(PHY) specifications for implementing wireless local area network (WLAN)computer communication in the 900 MHz and 2.4, 3.6, 5, and 60 GHzfrequency bands. They are the world's most widely used wireless computernetworking standards, used in most home and office networks to allowlaptops, printers, and smartphones to talk to each other and access theInternet without connecting wires. They are created and maintained bythe Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) LAN/MANStandards Committee (IEEE 802). The base version of the standard wasreleased in 1997, and has had subsequent amendments. The standard andamendments provide the basis for wireless network products using theWi-Fi brand. While each amendment is officially revoked when it isincorporated in the latest version of the standard, the corporate worldtends to market to the revisions because they concisely denotecapabilities of their products. As a result, in the marketplace, eachrevision tends to become its own standard.

The 802.11h specification is an addition to the 802.11 family ofstandards for wireless local area networks (WLANs). 802.11h is intendedto resolve interference issues introduced by the use of 802.11a in somelocations, particularly with military radar systems and medical devices.

The rules for 802.11h were recommended by the InternationalTelecommunication Union (ITU) because of problems that arose withinterference to and from other devices, especially in Europe. Dynamicfrequency selection (DFS) is used to minimize interference betweendevices in the 5 GHz channels. DFS is a mandate for radio systemsoperating in the 5 GHz band to be outfitted with a way to identify andtake action to avoid other radio transmissions that are consideredprimary-use or mission-critical. These mission-critical devices arevarious flavors of radar systems used by specific industrial, federalcivilian and military organizations. DFS detects the presence of otherdevices on a channel and automatically switches the network to anotherchannel if and when such signals are detected.

In prior art method for using multiple Wi-Fi access points to provideaccess to a network gateway, each Wi-Fi APD within the network will needto continuously scan the full range of frequency channels that areavailable for use. When a Wi-Fi APD detects that a frequency channel isin use, it will notify the Wi-Fi network gateway of a detection eventthrough the HNC/MAP. The Wi-Fi network gateway will then instruct eachWi-Fi APD that the frequency channel specified in the detection event isin use. Since each Wi-Fi APD is monitoring the full range of channelsindependently, it is possible that delays could be introduced into thenetwork.

Additionally, each Wi-Fi APD needs to scan the full range of availablechannels in order to detect other Wi-Fi APDs within the Wi-Fi network.Detecting other Wi-Fi APDs allows multiple Wi-Fi APDs to communicatewith each other and avoid operating on the same frequency channel toprevent interference. It would be advantageous to accelerate thescanning of frequency channels to using the Wi-Fi network gateway andHNC/MAP.

A conventional system and method of a network system, such as a gateway,operating with multiple APDs will now be described with reference toFIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional wireless communication system 100.

As shown in the figure, conventional wireless communication system 100includes a building 102, a network system, such as gateway 104, a Wi-FiAPD 106, a Wi-Fi APD 108, a Wi-Fi APD 110, a Wi-Fi APD 112, a Wi-Fi APD114, a wireless communication device 118, and external network 120.

Building 102 may be any structure or home that contains each of gateway104, Wi-Fi APD 106, Wi-Fi APD 108, Wi-Fi APD 110, Wi-Fi APD 112, Wi-FiAPD 114, and wireless communication device 118.

A network system, such as gateway 104, may be any device or system thatis operable to allow data to flow from a network including gateway 104,Wi-Fi APD 106, Wi-Fi APD 108, Wi-Fi APD 110, Wi-Fi APD 112, or Wi-Fi APD114 to external network 120 via communication channel 122, and tocommunicate by way of a radar band of IEEE Standard 802.11h.

Wi-Fi APD 106, Wi-Fi APD 108, Wi-Fi APD 110, Wi-Fi APD 112, and Wi-FiAPD 114 may be any device or system that is operable to allow wirelesscommunication device 118 to connect to gateway 104 by way of a radarband of IEEE Standard 802.11h, so as to connect to external network 120.

Wireless network 116 is the network created by gateway 104, Wi-Fi APD106, Wi-Fi APD 108, Wi-Fi APD 110, Wi-Fi APD 112, Wi-Fi APD 114, andwireless communication device 118.

Wireless communication device 118 may be any device or system that isoperable to: wirelessly communicate with at least one of gateway 104,Wi-Fi APD 106, Wi-Fi APD 108, Wi-Fi APD 110, Wi-Fi APD 112, and Wi-FiAPD 114 by way of the Wi-Fi standard. Non-limiting examples of wirelesscommunication device 118 include a smartphone, a tablet and a laptop.

In operation, an end-user will purchase and install each of gateway 104,Wi-Fi APD 106, Wi-Fi APD 108, Wi-Fi APD 110, Wi-Fi APD 112, and Wi-FiAPD 114 in building 102. Once installed, the end-user will turn on thegateway and each Wi-Fi APD in order to configure them for use in orderto create wireless network 116 to provide wireless communication device118 access to external network 120. Once operating, gateway 104 willon-board each of Wi-Fi APD 106, Wi-Fi APD 108, Wi-Fi APD 110, Wi-Fi APD112, and Wi-Fi APD 114. The process of gateway 104 on-boarding a Wi-FiAPD is well known in the state of the art, and for purposes of brevitywill not be further discussed here.

Once gateway 104 has on-boarded each of Wi-Fi APD 106, Wi-Fi APD 108,Wi-Fi APD 110, Wi-Fi APD 112, and Wi-Fi APD 114, wireless network 116 isoperational. At this time, wireless network 116 is able to beginoperating on a spectrum of channels in a radar band of IEEE Standard802.11h.

The operation of conventional wireless communication system 100 will nowbe described with additional reference to FIGS. 2-3.

FIG. 2 illustrates conventional wireless communication system 100operating over a spectrum of channels in a radar band of IEEE Standard802.11h.

As shown, the figure includes gateway 104, Wi-Fi APD 106, Wi-Fi APD 108,Wi-Fi APD 110, Wi-Fi APD 112, Wi-Fi APD 114, and a spectrum 202.Spectrum 202 contains channel 204, channel 206, channel 208, channel210, channel 212, channel 214, channel 216, channel 218, channel 220,channel 222, channel 224, channel 226, channel 228, channel 230, andchannel 232.

Channel 204 corresponds to frequency 5260 MHz, channel 206 correspondsto frequency 5280 MHz, channel 208 corresponds to frequency 5300 MHz,channel 210 corresponds to frequency 5320 MHz, channel 212 correspondsto frequency 5500 MHz, channel 214 corresponds to frequency 5520 MHz,channel 216 corresponds to frequency 5540 MHz, channel 218 correspondsto frequency 5560 MHz, channel 220 corresponds to frequency 5580 MHz,channel 222 corresponds to frequency 5600 MHz, channel 224 correspondsto frequency 5620 MHz, channel 226 corresponds to frequency 5640 MHz,channel 228 corresponds to frequency 5660 MHz, channel 230 correspondsto frequency 5680 MHz, and channel 232 corresponds to frequency 5700MHz.

Each channel within spectrum 202 is available for use by an end userwith the exception of channel 222, channel 224, and channel 226. In theUnited States, channel 222, channel 224, and channel 226 representchannels within in the radar band of IEEE Standard 802.11h that arereserved for government use and are not available to the public. Assuch, these channels are not monitored or used by the gateway 104 or anyWi-Fi APD 106-114 of conventional wireless communication system 100.

In operation, once gateway 104 has on-boarded each of Wi-Fi APD 106,Wi-Fi APD 108, Wi-Fi APD 110, Wi-Fi APD 112, and Wi-Fi APD 114, gateway104 will begin to monitor each channel within spectrum 202 for thepresence of a radar signal. Gateway 104 monitoring each channel withinspectrum 202 is illustrated as channel monitoring bundle 244 in FIG. 2.Similarly, each of Wi-Fi APD 106, Wi-Fi APD 108, Wi-Fi APD 110, Wi-FiAPD 112, and Wi-Fi APD 114 also monitor each channel within spectrum 202for the presence of a radar signal via channel monitoring bundle 246,channel monitoring bundle 248, channel monitoring bundle 250, channelmonitoring bundle 252, and channel monitoring bundle 254, respectively.

Returning to FIG. 1, an end-user will use wireless communication device118 to access external network 120, via wireless network 116. Wirelesscommunication device 118 will begin by joining wireless network 116through the closest Wi-Fi APD, which suppose in this example embodimentis Wi-Fi APD 112. As shown in FIG. 2, Wi-Fi APD 112 will then transmitthe communication from wireless communication device 118 to gateway 104over a channel within spectrum 202, which in this example embodiment ischannel 210. Once received, gateway 104 will transmit the communicationto external network 120 via communication channel 122.

Any return communication from external network 120 intended for theend-user is transmitted from gateway 104 to wireless communicationdevice 118, via wireless network 116. The end-user is able to continueaccessing external network 120 in this manner as each of gateway 104,Wi-Fi APD 106, Wi-Fi APD 108, Wi-Fi APD 110, Wi-Fi APD 112, and Wi-FiAPD 114 continue to monitor each channel within spectrum 202 for thepresence of a radar signal.

The conventional wireless communication 100 of FIG. 1 detecting a radarsignal on a channel within spectrum 202 will now be described withadditional reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 illustrates conventional wireless communication system 100detecting a radar signal on a channel within a spectrum of channels in aradar band of IEEE Standard 802.11h.

In operation, suppose at some time a radar signal is transmitted overchannel 210 by an external source (not shown). Each of gateway 104,Wi-Fi APD 106, Wi-Fi APD 108, Wi-Fi APD 110, Wi-Fi APD 112, and Wi-FiAPD 114 are monitoring all of the channels within spectrum 202independently of each other. Therefore, each of gateway 104, Wi-Fi APD106, Wi-Fi APD 108, Wi-Fi APD 110, Wi-Fi APD 112, and Wi-Fi APD 114detects when channel 210 is in use.

Once a radar signal is detected on channel 210, each of gateway 104,Wi-Fi APD 106, Wi-Fi APD 108, Wi-Fi APD 110, Wi-Fi APD 112, and Wi-FiAPD 114 will stop operating on channel 210. In particular, gateway 104must instruct all of Wi-Fi APD 106, Wi-Fi APD 108, Wi-Fi APD 110, Wi-FiAPD 112, and Wi-Fi APD 114 to operate over the remaining available radarchannels 204, 206, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 228, 230 and 232.

When a device, such as a Wi-Fi APD 106-114 or gateway 104, scansspectrum 202 to determine whether any channels are in use, the scanningdevice is unable to transmit or receive other communication signals.Further, the scanning of a channel within spectrum 202 takes apredetermined amount of time t_(s). Therefore, to scan the entirety ofspectrum 202, the total scanning time is 12t_(s), because there aretwelve radar channels available to the general public. Accordingly, eachscanning device is unable to transmit or receive other communicationsignals for a time 12t_(s). Therefore the available communication timewithin 100 is reduced by the time that devices are scanning foravailable radar channel.

In light of the above discussion, it is clear that the current systemand method for using a gateway 104, with multiple Wi-Fi APDs has flaws.There exists a need for using a gateway with multiple Wi-Fi APDs thatreduces channel scanning time.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for using a system,as exemplified by a gateway 104, and multiple Wi-Fi APDs to reducechannel scanning time.

In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, a gateway 104 isconfigured to provide Wi-Fi network access to an end-user through afirst Wi-Fi APD or a second Wi-Fi APD. The Wi-Fi network gateway 104 isable to operate over spectrum of channels in a radar band of IEEEStandard 802.11h. The Wi-Fi network gateway is able to operate in theradar band surrounding 5.0 GHz by using Dynamic Frequency Selection(DFS). DFS refers to a mechanism that allows unlicensed devices to sharethe 5.0 GHz frequency bands which have been allocated to radar systemswithout causing interference to those radars. In light of this, when thepresence of a radar signal on one of the frequency bands is detected,the unlicensed device, such as the Wi-Fi network gateway describedabove, must stop using the channel.

The Wi-Fi network gateway will delegate the first Wi-Fi APD to monitorfor the presence of a radar signal in a first set of channels within thespectrum and delegate the second Wi-Fi APD to monitor for the presenceof a radar signal in a second set of channels within the spectrum.

In an example embodiment, each Wi-Fi APD will continually scan theirdelegated set of channels within the spectrum until the presence of aradar signal is detected. Once the presence of a signal is detected on achannel, the Wi-Fi APD that detected the presence will transmit achannel-in-use signal to the Wi-Fi network gateway. Upon receiving thechannel-in-use signal, the Wi-Fi network gateway will transmit anotification signal to each of the Wi-Fi APDs in order to instruct themthat they should not use the in-use channel.

Further, at a later time, the Wi-Fi APD that detected the presence of aradar signal on one of its delegated channels may detect that there isno longer a radar signal on the channel. The Wi-Fi APD may then transmitan updated channel-in-use signal to the Wi-Fi network gateway. Uponreceiving the updated channel-in-use signal, the Wi-Fi network gatewaymay transmit an updated notification signal to each Wi-Fi APD in orderto instruct them that the channel may be used.

An aspect of the present disclosure also proposes a method of loadbalancing. The Wi-Fi network gateway is able to determine the amount ofdata being transmitted on each individual channel within the availableset of channels being monitored by the first Wi-Fi APD and the secondWi-Fi APD respectively. If the Wi-Fi network gateway detects that thereis a large difference in traffic between two different channels, theWi-Fi network gateway may redistribute the load to optimize the network.

Advantages of the systems and methods for using a network gateway withmultiple Wi-Fi APDs of the present disclosure include: an optimizationof resources; and each APD scans its own pool of channels rather thanall of the channels in the 5.0 GHz frequency range. This optimization ofresources reduces the channel scanning burden for each Wi-Fi APD andadditionally reduces detection latency when transmitting achannel-in-use signal to the Wi-Fi network gateway. Another advantage isthe load-balancing performed by the Wi-Fi network gateway that reducesnetwork and channel congestion.

A high-level description of a system and method for using a gateway andmultiple Wi-Fi APDs to optimize channel scanning in accordance with thepresent disclosure is as follows.

First, an end-user obtains a network gateway and configures it for usewith multiple Wi-Fi APDs to provide Wi-Fi access.

The network gateway then delegate each Wi-Fi APD in the network tomonitor its own unique pool of channels for the presence of a radarsignal. If a Wi-Fi APD detects the presence of a radar signal, it willnotify the network gateway which will in turn notify all other Wi-FiAPDs that the channel on which a radar signal was detected is in use.

Finally, the network gateway will then monitor the amount of traffic oneach channel that the Wi-Fi APDs are operating on and perform loadbalancing in order to prevent network and channel congestion.

Aspects of the present disclosure will now be described with referenceto FIGS. 4-9.

A first example embodiment of a system and method of accelerating andoptimizing channel scanning in a wireless communication system will nowbe described with reference to FIGS. 4-9.

FIG. 4 illustrates a wireless communication system 400 in accordancewith aspects of the present disclosure.

As shown in the figure, wireless communication system 400 includesbuilding 102, wireless communication device 118, external network 120, agateway 404, a Wi-Fi APD 406, a Wi-Fi APD 408, a Wi-Fi APD 410, a Wi-FiAPD 412, and a Wi-Fi APD 412.

In this example, wireless communication device 118, external network120, gateway 404, Wi-Fi APD 406, Wi-Fi APD 408, Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD412, and Wi-Fi APD 412 are illustrated as individual devices. However,in some embodiments, at least two of wireless communication device 118,external network 120, gateway 404, Wi-Fi APD 406, Wi-Fi APD 408, Wi-FiAPD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412, and Wi-Fi APD 412 may be combined as a unitarydevice. Further, in some embodiments, at least one of wirelesscommunication device 118, external network 120, gateway 404, Wi-Fi APD406, Wi-Fi APD 408, Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412, and Wi-Fi APD 412 maybe implemented as a computer having tangible computer-readable media forcarrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structuresstored thereon. Such tangible computer-readable media can be anyavailable media that can be accessed by a general purpose or specialpurpose computer. Non-limiting examples of tangible computer-readablemedia include physical storage and/or memory media such as RAM, ROM,EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used tocarry or store desired program code means in the form ofcomputer-executable instructions or data structures and which can beaccessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. Forinformation transferred or provided over a network or anothercommunications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combinationof hardwired or wireless) to a computer, the computer may properly viewthe connection as a computer-readable medium. Thus, any such connectionmay be properly termed a computer-readable medium. Combinations of theabove should also be included within the scope of computer-readablemedia.

Example tangible computer-readable media may be coupled to a processorsuch that the processor may read information from, and write informationto the tangible computer-readable media. In the alternative, thetangible computer-readable media may be integral to the processor. Theprocessor and the tangible computer-readable media may reside in anapplication specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”). In the alternative,the processor and the tangible computer-readable media may reside asdiscrete components.

Example tangible computer-readable media may be also be coupled tosystems, non-limiting examples of which include a computersystem/server, which is operational with numerous other general purposeor special purpose computing system environments or configurations.Examples of well-known computing systems, environments, and/orconfigurations that may be suitable for use with computer system/serverinclude, but are not limited to, personal computer systems, servercomputer systems, thin clients, thick clients, handheld or laptopdevices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set-topboxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputersystems, mainframe computer systems, and distributed cloud computingenvironments that include any of the above systems or devices, and thelike.

Such a computer system/server may be described in the general context ofcomputer system-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Further, such a computer system/server may be practiced indistributed cloud computing environments where tasks are performed byremote processing devices that are linked through a communicationsnetwork. In a distributed cloud computing environment, program modulesmay be located in both local and remote computer system storage mediaincluding memory storage devices.

Components of an example computer system/server may include, but are notlimited to, one or more processors or processing units, a system memory,and a bus that couples various system components including the systemmemory to the processor.

The bus represents one or more of any of several types of busstructures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheralbus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus usingany of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and notlimitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture(ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA)bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, andPeripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus.

A program/utility, having a set (at least one) of program modules, maybe stored in the memory by way of example, and not limitation, as wellas an operating system, one or more application programs, other programmodules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one or moreapplication programs, other program modules, and program data or somecombination thereof, may include an implementation of a networkingenvironment. The program modules generally carry out the functionsand/or methodologies of various embodiments of the application asdescribed herein.

The OSI model includes seven independent protocol layers: (1) Layer 1,the physical layer, which defines electrical and physical specificationsfor devices, and the relationship between a device and a transmissionmedium, such as a copper or fiber optical cable; (2) Layer 2, the datalink layer, which provides the functional and procedural means for thetransfer of data between network entities and the detection andcorrection of errors that may occur in the physical layer; (3) Layer 3,the network layer, which provides the functional and procedural meansfor transferring variable length data sequences from a source host onone network to a destination host on a different network (in contrast tothe data link layer which connects hosts within the same network), andperforms network routing functions and sometimes fragmentation andreassembly; (4) Layer 4, the transport layer, which provides transparenttransfer of data between end users, providing reliable data transferservices to the upper layers by controlling the reliability of a givenlink through flow control, segmentation/desegmentation, and errorcontrol; (5) Layer 5, the session layer, which controls the connections(interchanges) between computers, establishing, managing and terminatingthe connections between the local and remote applications; (6) Layer 6,the presentation layer, which establishes context between applicationlayer entities, by which the higher-layer entities may use differentsyntax and semantics when the presentation service provides a mappingbetween them; and (7) Layer 7, the application layer, which interactsdirectly with the software applications that implement the communicatingcomponent.

Generic Stream Encapsulation (GSE) provides a data link layer protocol,which facilitates the transmission of data from packet orientedprotocols (e.g., Internet protocol or IP) on top of a unidirectionalphysical layer protocol (e.g., DVB-S2, DVB-T2 and DVB-C2). GSE providesfunctions/characteristics, such as support for multi-protocolencapsulation (e.g., IPv4, IPv6, MPEG, ATM, Ethernet, VLANs, etc.),transparency to network layer functions (e.g., IP encryption and IPheader compression), and support of several addressing modes, amechanism for fragmenting IP datagrams or other network layer packetsover baseband frames, and support for hardware and software filtering.

In a layered system, a unit of data that is specified in a protocol of agiven layer (e.g., a “packet” at the network layer), and which includesprotocol-control information and possibly user data of that layer, iscommonly referred to as a “protocol data unit” or PDU. At the networklayer, data is formatted into data packets (e.g., IP datagrams, EthernetFrames, or other network layer packets).

Gateway 404 may be any device of system that is operable to allow datato flow from a network including gateway 404, Wi-Fi APD 406, Wi-Fi APD408, Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412, or Wi-Fi APD 414 to external network120 via communication channel 122. Gateway 404 may perform suchfunctions as link layer and physical layer outroute coding andmodulation (e.g., DVB S2 adaptive coding and modulation), link layer andphysical layer inroute handling (e.g., IPOS), inroute bandwidthallocation and load balancing, outroute prioritization, web accelerationand HTTP compression, flow control, encryption, redundancy switchovers,traffic restriction policy enforcement, data compression, TCPperformance enhancements (e.g., TCP performance enhancing proxies, suchas TCP spoofing), quality of service functions (e.g., classification,prioritization, differentiation, random early detection (RED), TCP/UDPflow control), bandwidth usage policing, dynamic load balancing, androuting.

Gateway 404 may be any device or system that is additionally operable todelegate any one of Wi-Fi APD 406, Wi-Fi APD 408, Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-FiAPD 412, or Wi-Fi APD 414 to monitor for the presence of a first signalon any one of a first set of channels within a spectrum of channels in aradar band of IEEE Standard 802.11h, as will be described in greaterdetail below; delegate any one of Wi-Fi APD 406, Wi-Fi APD 408, Wi-FiAPD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412, or Wi-Fi APD 414 to monitor for the presence ofa second signal on any one of a second set of channels within a spectrumof channels in the radar band of IEEE Standard 802.11h, as will bedescribed in greater detail below; receive a channel-in-use signal froma first of Wi-Fi APD 406, Wi-Fi APD 408, Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412,or Wi-Fi APD 414, as will be described in greater detail below;transmitting a notification signal to a second of Wi-Fi APD 406, Wi-FiAPD 408, Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412, or Wi-Fi APD 414, as will bedescribed in greater detail below; determine a communication volume oneach of the first set of channels within a spectrum of channels in aradar band of IEEE Standard 802.11h, as will be described in greaterdetail below; generating an instruction to instruct each of Wi-Fi APD406, Wi-Fi APD 408, Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412, or Wi-Fi APD 414 tonot use the in-use channel, as will be described in greater detailbelow; transmitting the instruction to each of Wi-Fi APD 406, Wi-Fi APD408, Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412, or Wi-Fi APD 414, as will bedescribed in greater detail below; and receive a communication signalfrom one of Wi-Fi APD 406, Wi-Fi APD 408, Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412,or Wi-Fi APD 414 as a result of the transmission of the instruction, aswill be described in greater detail below.

Wi-Fi APD 406, Wi-Fi APD 408, Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412, or Wi-Fi APD414 may be any device or system that has on-boarding configurationinformation stored therein, the on-boarding configuration informationincluding a factory-set network identifier and a factory-set networkpassword and that is operable to allow wireless communication device 118to connect to gateway 404, so as to connect to external network 120.

Wireless communication device 118 is able to wirelessly communicate withWi-Fi APD 406, Wi-Fi APD 408, Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412, and Wi-FiAPD 414 as will be described in more detail below. Wi-Fi APD 406, Wi-FiAPD 408, Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412, or Wi-Fi APD 414 are able toadditionally communicate with gateway 404. Gateway 404 is able tocommunicate with external network 120 by way of a communication channel122, which may be any known type of communication channel, non-limitingexample of which include a wired and wireless communication channel.

An example method 500 for controlling multiple Wi-Fi access pointdevices in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure will now bedescribed with additional reference to FIGS. 5-9.

As shown in the figure, method 500 starts (S502) and Wi-Fi APDs areon-boarded (S504). In an example embodiment, gateway 404 will on-boardeach Wi-Fi APD in range that is to provide access to the externalnetwork. This will be described in greater detail with reference toFIGS. 6-8.

FIG. 6 illustrates wireless communication system 400 operating inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

As shown, the figure includes gateway 404, Wi-Fi APD 406, Wi-Fi APD 408,Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412, and Wi-Fi APD 414, and spectrum 202.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded view of a network system, as exemplifiedby gateway 404, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

As shown in the figure, gateway 404 includes a memory 702, a controller704, a communication component 706, an on-boarding component 708, adelegating component 710, a reconfiguration component 712, a loadbalancing component 714, and a monitoring component 716.

In this example, memory 702, controller 704, communication component706, on-boarding component 708, delegating component 710,reconfiguration component 712, load balancing component 714, andmonitoring component 716 are illustrated as individual devices. However,in some embodiments, at least two of memory 702, controller 704,communication component 706, on-boarding component 708, delegatingcomponent 710, reconfiguration component 712, load balancing component714, and monitoring component 716 may be combined as a unitary device.Further, in some embodiments, at least one of memory 702, controller704, communication component 706, on-boarding component 708, delegatingcomponent 710, reconfiguration component 712, load balancing component714, and monitoring component 716 may be implemented as a computerhaving tangible computer-readable media for carrying or havingcomputer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon.

When gateway 404 is prepared for shipment from the manufacturer, theon-boarding configuration information is stored in memory 702.

Memory 702 may be any device or system that is able to have on-boardingconfiguration information stored therein, wherein the on-boardingconfiguration information includes a factory-set network identifier anda factory-set network password. Non-limiting examples of memory 702include any known physical storage and/or memory media such as RAM, ROM,EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used tocarry or store desired program code means in the form ofcomputer-executable instructions or data structures and which can beaccessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.

Wi-Fi device driver or Wi-Fi APD firmware may be stored as aprogram/utility, having a set (at least one) of program modules, storedin memory 702 as well as an operating system, one or more applicationprograms, other program modules, and program data. The program moduleswithin memory 702 may be access by controller 704 to carry out the Wi-Fiautomatic on-boarding functions of various embodiments of theapplication as described herein.

The Wi-Fi device driver or Wi-Fi APD firmware includes the on-boardingconfiguration information, which is information that is needed by aWi-Fi APD to establish a Wi-Fi connection with gateway 404. Theon-boarding configuration information includes a network identifier, anetwork password, an SSID, passphrase, security mode, login username,login password and BSSID. When prepared for shipment, the manufacturerestablishes initial settings for this information as factory-setsettings, some of which may be changed by an authorized user at a latertime. In particular, an initial network identifier is provided as afactory-set network identifier and an initial network password isprovided as a factory-set network password.

Controller 704 may be any device or system that is operable to controlthe operation of each of memory 702, communication component 706,on-boarding component 708, delegating component 710, reconfigurationcomponent 712, load balancing component 714, and monitoring component716.

Communication component 706 may be any device or system that is operableto communicate externally with another device or network. Communicationcomponent 706 may be any device or system that is operable to: receive achannel-in-use signal from a first Wi-Fi APD, as will be described ingreater detail below; transmit a notification signal based on thechannel-in-use signal to a second Wi-Fi APD, as will be described ingreater detail below; transmit an instruction signal to a first and asecond Wi-Fi APD, as will be described in greater detail below; receivea communication signal from one of a first Wi-Fi APD or second Wi-Fi APDbased on the transmission of the instruction signal, as will bedescribed in greater detail below; and to receive an updatedchannel-in-use signal from the first Wi-Fi APD and to transmit anupdated notification signal to the second Wi-Fi APD based on the updatedchannel-in-use signal, as will be described in greater detail below.

On-boarding component 708 may be any device or system that is operableto on-board a Wi-Fi APD.

Delegating component 710 may be any device or system that is operable todelegate a first Wi-Fi APD to monitor for the presence of a first signalon any one of a first set of channels within a spectrum of channels in aradar band of IEEE Standard 802.11h and to delegate a second Wi-Fi APDto monitor for the presence of a second signal on any one of a secondset of channels within a spectrum of channels in the radar band of IEEEStandard 802.11h, as will be described in greater detail below.

Reconfiguration component 712 may be any device or system that isoperable to instruct a first Wi-Fi APD and a second Wi-Fi APD to not usea first one of the first set of channels within the spectrum of channelsin the radar band of IEEE Standard 802.11h based on the receipt of thechannel-in-use signal from the first Wi-Fi APD, as will be described ingreater detail below.

Load balancing component 714 may be any device or system that isoperable to: determine a communication volume on each of the first setof channels within the spectrum of channels in the radar band of IEEEStandard 802.11h and the second set of channels within the spectrum ofchannels in the radar band of IEEE Standard 802.11h, as will bedescribed in greater detail below; and generate an instruction toinstruct the first Wi-Fi APD and the second Wi-Fi APD to not use thein-use channel; and determine an updated communication volume on each ofthe first set of channels within the spectrum of channels in the radarband of IEEE Standard 802.11h and the second set of channels within thespectrum of channels in the radar band of IEEE Standard 802.11h, as willbe described in greater detail below.

Monitoring component 716 may be any device or system that is operable tomonitor for the presence of a radar signal on any one of a third set ofchannels within the spectrum of channels in the radar band of IEEEStandard 802.11h.

After the on-boarding configuration information is stored, gateway 404may be shipped for purchase. Eventually, gateway 404 is purchased by anend user, is unpackaged and is prepared for use in a Wi-Fi network.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exploded view of Wi-Fi APD 406 in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure.

As shown, Wi-Fi APD 406 includes a memory 802, a communication component804, a controller 804, an on-boarding component 808, and a monitoringcomponent 810.

In this example, memory 802, communication component 804, controller804, on-boarding component 808, and monitoring component 810 areillustrated as individual devices. However, in some embodiments, atleast two of memory 802, communication component 804, controller 804,on-boarding component 808, and monitoring component 810 may be combinedas a unitary device. Further, in some embodiments, at least one ofmemory 802, communication component 804, controller 804, on-boardingcomponent 808, and monitoring component 810 may be implemented as acomputer having tangible computer-readable media for carrying or havingcomputer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon.

When Wi-Fi APD 406 is prepared for shipment from the manufacturer, theon-boarding configuration information is stored in memory 802.

Memory 802 may be any device or system that is able to have on-boardingconfiguration information stored therein, wherein the on-boardingconfiguration information includes a factory-set network identifier anda factory-set network password. Non-limiting examples of memory 802include any known physical storage and/or memory media such as RAM, ROM,EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used tocarry or store desired program code means in the form ofcomputer-executable instructions or data structures and which can beaccessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.

Wi-Fi device driver or Wi-Fi APD firmware may be stored as aprogram/utility, having a set (at least one) of program modules, storedin memory 802 as well as an operating system, one or more applicationprograms, other program modules, and program data. The program moduleswithin memory 802 may be access by controller 806 to carry out the Wi-Fiautomatic on-boarding functions of various embodiments of theapplication as described herein.

The Wi-Fi device driver or Wi-Fi APD firmware includes the on-boardingconfiguration information, which is information that is needed by aWi-Fi communication device to establish a Wi-Fi connection with Wi-FiAPD 406. The on-boarding configuration information includes a networkidentifier, a network password, an SSID, passphrase, security mode,login username, login password and BSSID. When prepared for shipment,the manufacturer establishes initial settings for this information asfactory-set settings, some of which may be changed by an authorized userat a later time. In particular, an initial network identifier isprovided as a factory-set network identifier and an initial networkpassword is provided as a factory-set network password.

Controller 806 may be any device or system that is operable to controlthe operation of each of memory 802, communication component 804,on-boarding component 808, and monitoring component 810.

Communication component 804 may be any device or system that is operableto communicate externally with another device or network.

On-boarding component 808 may be any device or system that is operableto on-board a Wi-Fi APD.

Monitoring component 810 may be any device or system that is operable tomonitor for the presence of a radar signal on any one of a third set ofchannels within the spectrum of channels in the radar band of IEEEStandard 802.11h.

After the on-boarding configuration information is stored, Wi-Fi APD 406may be shipped for purchase. Eventually, Wi-Fi APD 406 is purchased byan end user, is unpackaged and is prepared for use in a Wi-Fi network.Similarly, Wi-Fi APD 408, Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412, and Wi-Fi APD414 are purchased by an end user, are unpackaged and prepared for use ina Wi-Fi network.

Referring back to FIG. 6, once the gateway and Wi-Fi APDs are purchasedand setup by an end user, the gateway will need to on-board each Wi-FiAPD. Many on-boarding processes are known in the state of the art, andfor purposes of brevity, only a high level description of theon-boarding process will be discussed.

To begin the on-boarding process, an end user powers-on gateway 404, andWi-Fi APD 406. Next, the end-user will obtain a unique and individualproduct identifier key or password from gateway 404 by transmitting anon-boarding signal from their wireless communication device tocommunication component 706. The on-boarding signal is then sent toon-boarding component 708 in order to instruct gateway 404 to begin theon-boarding process.

Next, with the on-boarding process started, an identifier key orpassword is retrieved from memory 702 and transmitted to the end-userswireless communication device via communication component 706. With theidentifier key or password obtained, the end-user will login to auser-interface associated with Wi-Fi APD 406.

The end-user will then use the user-interface to transmit the identifierkey or password of gateway 404 as an on-boarding signal to communicationcomponent 804 of Wi-Fi APD 406. The on-boarding signal is passed toon-boarding component 808 which will instruct Wi-Fi APD 406 to begin theon-boarding processes using the identifier key or password containedwithin the on-boarding signal. On-boarding component 808 will thenconfigure its settings using the identifier key or password in order toaccess gateway 404 and enable communication. Finally, the identifier keyor password is sent to be stored by memory 802.

The process of on-boarding Wi-Fi APD 408, on-boarding Wi-Fi APD 410,on-boarding Wi-Fi APD 412, and on-boarding Wi-Fi APD 414 are identicalto the process of on-boarding Wi-Fi APD 406 as described above.

Returning to FIG. 5, after the Wi-Fi APDs are on-boarded (S504),channels for monitoring are delegated to Wi-Fi APDs. In an exampleembodiment, gateway 404 will delegate channels to be monitored by eachof Wi-Fi APD 406, Wi-Fi APD 408, Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412, and Wi-FiAPD 414. This will be described with additional reference to FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 7, delegating component 710 will generate a delegationsignal that will instruct each Wi-Fi APD to monitor a set of channelswithin spectrum 202. The delegation signal will divide the total numberof channels to be monitored within spectrum 202 over the total number ofWi-Fi APDs as well as gateway 404 itself. In this manner, all of thechannels in spectrum 202 can be monitored more efficiently than eachdevice monitoring all of the channels in spectrum 202 independently.Once the delegation signal is generated, it will be transmitted to eachWi-Fi APD by communication component 706.

Additionally, in this example embodiment, gateway 404 is equipped to actas both a gateway and an access point device, and as such is able toscan channels within spectrum 202. In other embodiments, gateway 404 mayonly act as a gateway and not an access point device. In this case, thescanning of channels would only be delegated to the Wi-Fi APDs. In thisembodiment gateway 404 is operable to act as an access point device anddelegate the scanning of channels within spectrum 202 to itself inaddition to each Wi-Fi APD. To perform the scanning of channels, thedelegation signal is sent to controller 704 which will instructmonitoring component 716 to scan channel 212 and channel 214 of spectrum202.

Returning to FIG. 6, the delegation signal is transmitted to Wi-Fi APD406 via communication channel 602, Wi-Fi APD 408 via communicationchannel 604, Wi-Fi APD 410 via communication channel 606, Wi-Fi APD 412via communication channel 608, and Wi-Fi APD 414 via communicationchannel 610.

Referring briefly to FIG. 8, using Wi-Fi APD 406 as an example, thedelegation signal is received by communication component 804 of Wi-FiAPD 406. The delegation signal is then sent to controller 806, whichwill in turn instruct monitoring component 810 to only monitor thechannels specified in the delegation signal. In this example embodiment,monitoring component 810 is to only monitor channel 204 and channel 206of spectrum 202.

Returning to FIG. 5, after channels for monitoring are delegated toWi-Fi APDs, the channels are scanned (S508). In an example embodiment,each of Wi-Fi APD 406, Wi-Fi APD 408, Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412, andWi-Fi APD 414 will scan only the channels specified by theirrespectively received delegation signal. This will be described withadditional reference to FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, the gateway and each Wi-Fi APD begins scanning thechannels that were delegated to them. In an example embodiment, gateway404 begins scanning channel 212 and channel 214 as shown by line 620 andline 622. Wi-Fi APD 406 begins scanning channel 204 and channel 206 asshown by line 612 and line 614, Wi-Fi APD 408 begins scanning channel208 and channel 210 as shown by line 616 and line 618, Wi-Fi APD 410begins scanning channel 216 and channel 218 as shown by line 624 andline 626, Wi-Fi APD 412 begins scanning channel 220 and channel 228 asshown by line 628 and line 630, and Wi-Fi APD 414 begins scanningchannel 230 and channel 232 as shown by line 632 and line 634.

Gateway 404, Wi-Fi APD 406, Wi-Fi APD 408, Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412,or Wi-Fi APD 414 will continue to scan their delegated channels for thepresence of radar signals in this manner.

Returning to FIG. 5, after the DFS channels are scanned (S508) it isdetermined whether the presence of a radar signal is detected (S510).For example, as shown in FIG. 7, communication component 706 of gateway404 tunes to a channel and listens for activity on that channel, thusdeeming it to be used based on reception. The volume of activity on achannel thus also indicates the busyness/load of/on the channel.Similarly, as shown in FIG. 8, communication component 804 of Wi-Fi APD406 tunes to a channel and listens for activity on that channel, thusdeeming it to be used based on reception.

Returning to FIG. 5, if the presence of a radar signal is not detected(N at S510), then gateway 404 will perform load balancing (S514).

For example, returning to FIG. 7, if a radar signal is not detected onany channel within spectrum 202, gateway 404 must perform loadbalancing. Load balancing component 714 is continually monitoring thecommunication volume on each channel within spectrum 202. Suppose forexample, that Wi-Fi APD 406 and Wi-Fi APD 408 are both operating onchannel 208 creating a high volume of communications on the channel. Inthis case, load balancing component 714 would transmit the communicationvolume to reconfiguration component 712. Reconfiguration component 712would then determine that Wi-Fi APD 406 should begin operating onchannel 204 in order to reduce the load on channel 208.

At this time, reconfiguration component 712 will generate an instructionsignal based on the determination that Wi-Fi APD 406 should beginoperating on channel 204. Once generated, the instruction signal will besent to communication component 706, which will transmit the signal toWi-Fi APD 406. Referring briefly to FIG. 8, the instruction signal willbe received by communication component 804 of Wi-Fi APD 406. Oncereceived, communication component 804 will in turn begin operating onchannel 204 instead of channel 208.

Returning to FIG. 5, if the presence of a radar signal is detected (Y atS510), gateway 404 will inform each of the Wi-Fi APDs of a detectedradar signal (S512). This will be described in greater detail withadditional reference to FIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 9, a radar signal is transmitted on channel 210 ofspectrum 202 by an external source (not shown). Wi-Fi APD 408 isresponsible for the monitoring of channel 208 and channel 210.

In the prior art system discussed above with reference to FIG. 3, eachdevice would need to scan 12 channels, wherein each channel scannedrequired a scanning time ts. Accordingly, each device would spend atotal scanning time of 12 t_(s) to scan spectrum 202. However, inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure, each device need onlyscan 2 channels, wherein each channel scanned requires a scanning timet_(s). Accordingly, in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure, each device would spend a total scanning time of 2 t_(s) toscan spectrum 202. Since Wi-Fi APD 408 is only responsible formonitoring two channels instead of every channel in spectrum 202, it isable to spend less time scanning for an in-use channel and have moretime available for communication with wireless communication device 118.

Returning to FIG. 5, once the presence of a radar signal is detected (Yat S510), gateway 404 will inform all Wi-Fi APDs of the detection(S512). For example, as shown in FIG. 9, once gateway 404 receives thechannel-in-use signal from Wi-Fi APD 408, it will generate anotification signal to be transmitted to each of Wi-Fi APD 406, Wi-FiAPD 408, Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412, and Wi-Fi APD 414.

Returning to FIG. 7, the channel-in-use signal from Wi-Fi APD 408 isreceived by communication component 706 and then sent to reconfigurationcomponent 712. Upon receiving the channel-in-use signal, reconfigurationcomponent 712 will generate a notification signal that will instruct aWi-Fi APD that the presence of a radar signal has been detected onchannel 210 and that the channel should not be used. Once generated, thenotification signal is sent to communication component 706, which thentransmits the signal to each of Wi-Fi APD 406, Wi-Fi APD 408, Wi-Fi APD410, Wi-Fi APD 412, and Wi-Fi APD 414.

Referring to FIG. 8, once transmitted, the notification signal isreceived by communication component 804 of Wi-Fi APD 406. Communicationcomponent 804 then delivers the notification signal to controller 806.Controller 806 analyzes the notification signal and then instructscommunication component 804 to stop using channel 210 forcommunications.

Returning briefly to FIG. 4, suppose for purposes of discussion that anend-user is using wireless communication device 118 to access externalnetwork 120 via Wi-Fi APD 412. Also suppose, for purposes of discussion,that Wi-Fi APD 412 is transmitting data between wireless communicationdevice 118 and gateway 404 over channel 210. When Wi-Fi APD 408 detectsthe presence of a radar signal on channel 210, as discussed above inreference to FIG. 9, when Wi-Fi APD 412 receives the notificationsignal, it will begin transmitting data between wireless communicationdevice 118 and gateway 404 over a different channel, such as channel218. In this manner, the end-user is still able to access externalnetwork 120 without interruption while simultaneously not interferingwith radar communications on channel 210.

Returning to FIG. 5, once the Wi-Fi APDs have been informed of thepresence of a radar signal (S512), gateway 404 will perform loadbalancing (S514). For purposes of discussion, suppose that severalend-users are also accessing external network 120, via Wi-Fi APD 410 andWi-Fi APD 414, each of which are transmitting data between variousend-users and gateway 404 via channel 218. With three Wi-Fi APDsoperating on channel 218, gateway 404 may perform load balancing by anyknown load balancing method. A general description of load balancingwill be further described with reference to FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 7, with three Wi-Fi APDs operating on channel 218, loadbalancing component 714 will detect a communication volume for databeing transmitted throughout the channels in spectrum 202. Loadbalancing component 714 will then send the communication volume toreconfiguration component 712 which will generate an instruction signalto instruct the three Wi-Fi APDs to use different channels in order todistribute the amount of data being transferred more evenly across thechannels of spectrum 202.

In this embodiment, the instruction signal instructs Wi-Fi APD 410 touse channel 216, Wi-Fi APD 412 to continue using channel 218, and Wi-FiAPD 414 to use channel 232. Reconfiguration component 712 then sends theinstruction signal to communication component 706, which transmits thesignal to each of Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412, and Wi-Fi APD 414. Onceeach of Wi-Fi APD 410, Wi-Fi APD 412, and Wi-Fi APD 414 receive theinstruction signal, they begin operating on their instructed channels.

Returning to FIG. 5, after load balancing has been performed (S514), ifthere is still power to gateway 404 (N at S516), THEN the channels ofspectrum 202 will continue to be scanned (return to S508). If there isnot power to gateway 404 (Y at S516), method 500 stops (S518).

For purposes of discussion, suppose that as communication system 400continues to scan the channels of spectrum 202 and that a radar signalis detected by Wi-Fi APD 414 on channel 232 in addition to the radarsignal that was previously detected on channel 210 by Wi-Fi APD 408. Inthis embodiment, Wi-Fi APD 414 will transmit an updated channel-in-usesignal to gateway 404. Gateway 404 will then generate an updatednotification signal to instruct all of the Wi-Fi APDs that both channel210 and channel 232 are in use.

When the Wi-Fi APDs receive the updated notification signal, if they arecurrently operating on either of channel 210 or channel 232 they willbegin operating on different channels as instructed. If a Wi-Fi APDsswitches channels, gateway 404 will need to perform load balancing onceagain. Gateway 404 will then use the communication volume on eachremaining available channel 204, 206, 208, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 228,and 230 to determine an updated communication volume. Once the updatedcommunication volume has been determined, gateway 404 will generate anupdated notification signal, which it will then transmit to each of theWi-Fi APDs. The Wi-Fi APDs will then begin operating on the channelsdesignated within the updated notification signal.

Now, again for purposes of discussion, suppose that as the communicationsystem continues to scan the channels of spectrum 202, the radar signalon channel 210 disappears. In this embodiment, once the radar signal onchannel 210 is gone, APD 408 transmits an updated channel-in-use signalto gateway 404. Gateway 404 will then generate an instruction signal asdescribed above, and transmit it to each Wi-Fi APD to instruct them thatchannel 210 is available. Gateway 404 may then additionally perform anyload balancing while the channels of spectrum 202 are continued to beperiodically scanned.

In the example embodiment discussed above with reference to FIG. 6, 5ADSs are used. It should be noted that this is merely a non-limitingexample and that any integer number of APDs greater zero may be used inaccordance with aspects of the present invention. In cases where thenumber of APDs are greater than the number of channels to be scanned,then the remaining number of APDs that are not assigned to a channel toscan may be free to communicate without spending any time scanningchannels.

In summary, the prior art methods for using a gateway to controlmultiple Wi-Fi access point devices is inefficient since the gateway andeach Wi-Fi APD continually scan all channels within a spectrumindependently. Additionally, this method introduces delays between whena radar signal is transmitted on a channel and its detection, resultingin interference as the Wi-Fi APDs continue to operate on the in-usechannel.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide a system and method foroptimizing the scanning of channels within the spectrum of channelswithin the radar band of IEEE Standard 802.11h. Each Wi-Fi APD scans itsown pool of channels rather than all of the channels in the spectrum.This optimization reduces the channel scanning burden for each Wi-Fi APDand reduces radar signal detection latency. Another aspect of thepresent disclosure provides a system and method for load balancing toreduce channel strain and congestion.

The foregoing description of various preferred embodiments have beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the preciseforms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations arepossible in light of the above teaching. The example embodiments, asdescribed above, were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the disclosure and its practical application to therebyenable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure invarious embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of thedisclosure be defined by the claims appended hereto.

1. A system for use with a first access point device and a second accesspoint device, the system comprising: a delegating component operable todelegate the first access point device to monitor for a presence of asignal on any one of a first set of channels within a spectrum ofchannels in a radar band and to delegate the second access point deviceto monitor a second presence of a second signal on any one of a secondset of channels within the spectrum of channels in the radar band; acommunication component operable to receive a channel-in-use signal fromthe first access point device and to transmit a notification signal tothe second access point device based on the channel-in-use signal, thechannel-in-use signal being associated with an in-use channel of thefirst set of channels within the spectrum of channels in the radar band;and a load balancing component operable to determine a communicationvolume on each of the first set of channels within the spectrum ofchannels in the radar band and the second set of channels within thespectrum of channels in the radar band and to generate an instruction toinstruct the first access point device and the second access pointdevice to not use the in-use channel, wherein the communicationcomponent is further operable to transmit the instruction to the firstaccess point device and the second access point device, and wherein thecommunication component is further operable to receive a communicationsignal from one of the first access point device and the second accesspoint device as a result of a transmission of the instruction by thecommunication component.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising areconfiguration component operable to instruct the first access pointdevice and the second access point device to not use a first one of thefirst set of channels within the spectrum of channels in the radar bandbased on a receiving of the channel-in-use signal from the first accesspoint device.
 3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a monitoringcomponent operable to monitor for a third presence of a third signal onany one of a third set of channels within the spectrum of channels inthe radar band.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the communicationcomponent is further operable to receive an updated channel-in-usesignal from the first access point device and to transmit an updatednotification signal to the second access point device based on theupdated channel-in-use signal, and wherein the load balancing componentis further operable to determine an updated communication volume on eachof the first set of channels within the spectrum of channels in theradar band and the second set of channels within the spectrum ofchannels in the radar band.
 5. The system of claim 1, further comprisinga monitoring component operable to monitor for a third presence of athird signal on any one of a third set of channels within the spectrumof channels in the radar band.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein thecommunication component is further operable to receive an updatedchannel-in-use signal from the first access point device and to transmitan updated notification signal to the second access point device basedon the updated channel-in-use signal, and wherein said load balancingcomponent is further operable to determine an updated communicationvolume on each of the first set of channels within the spectrum ofchannels in the radar band of IEEE Standard 802.11h and the second setof channels within the spectrum of channels in the radar band of IEEEStandard 802.11h.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communicationcomponent is further operable to receive an updated channel-in-usesignal from the first access point device and to transmit an updatednotification signal to the second access point device based on theupdated channel-in-use signal, and wherein the load balancing componentis further operable to determine an updated communication volume on eachof the first set of channels within the spectrum of channels in theradar band and the second set of channels within the spectrum ofchannels in the radar band.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the radarband is a radar band of IEEE Standard 802.11h.
 9. A method of using afirst access point device and a second access point device, the methodcomprising: delegating, via a delegating component, the first accesspoint device to monitor for a presence of a signal on any one of a firstset of channels within a spectrum of channels in a radar band;delegating, via the delegating component, the second access point deviceto monitor a second presence of a second signal on any one of a secondset of channels within the spectrum of channels in the radar band;receiving, via a communication component, a channel-in-use signal fromthe first access point device, the channel-in-use signal beingassociated with an in-use channel; transmitting, via the communicationcomponent, a notification signal to the second access point device basedon the channel-in-use signal; determining, via a load balancingcomponent, a communication volume on each of the first set of channelswithin the spectrum of channels in the radar band and the second set ofchannels within the spectrum of channels in the radar band; generating,via the load balancing component, an instruction to instruct the firstaccess point device and the second access point device to not use thein-use channel; transmitting, via the communication component, theinstruction to the first access point device and the second access pointdevice, and receiving, via the communication component, a communicationsignal from one of the first access point device and the second accesspoint device as a result of the transmitting of the instruction.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, further comprising instructing, via a reconfigurationcomponent, the first access point device and the second access pointdevice to not use a first one of the first set of channels within thespectrum of channels in the radar band based on a receiving of thechannel-in-use signal from the first access point device.
 11. The methodof claim 10, further comprising monitoring, via a monitoring component,for a third presence of a third signal on any one of a third set ofchannels within the spectrum of channels in the radar band.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising: receiving, via the communicationcomponent, an updated channel-in-use signal from the first access pointdevice; transmitting, via the communication component, an updatednotification signal to the second access point device based on theupdated channel-in-use signal; and determining, via the load balancingcomponent, an updated communication volume on each of the first set ofchannels within the spectrum of channels in the radar band and thesecond set of channels within the spectrum of channels in the radarband.
 13. The method of claim 9, further comprising monitoring, via amonitoring component, for a third presence of a third signal on any oneof a third set of channels within the spectrum of channels in the radarband.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: receiving, via thecommunication component, an updated channel-in-use signal from the firstaccess point device; transmitting, via the communication component, anupdated notification signal to the second access point device based onthe updated channel-in-use signal; and determining, via the loadbalancing component, an updated communication volume on each of thefirst set of channels within the spectrum of channels in the radar bandand the second set of channels within the spectrum of channels in theradar band.
 15. The method of claim 9, further comprising: receiving,via the communication component, an updated channel-in-use signal fromthe first access point device; transmitting, via the communicationcomponent, an updated notification signal to the second access pointdevice based on the updated channel-in-use signal; and determining, viathe load balancing component, an updated communication volume on each ofthe first set of channels within the spectrum of channels in the radarband and the second set of channels within the spectrum of channels inthe radar band.
 16. The method of claim 9, wherein the radar band is aradar band of IEEE Standard 802.11h.
 17. A non-transitory, tangible,computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that,when executed by one or more computer processors, cause the one or morecomputer processors to perform steps of a method of using a first accesspoint device and a second access point device, the method comprising:delegating, via a delegating component, the first access point device tomonitor for a presence of a signal on any one of a first set of channelswithin a spectrum of channels in a radar band; delegating, via thedelegating component, the second access point device to monitor a secondpresence of a second signal on any one of a second set of channelswithin the spectrum of channels in the radar band; receiving, via acommunication component, a channel-in-use signal from the first accesspoint device, the channel-in-use signal being associated with an in-usechannel; transmitting, via the communication component, a notificationsignal to the second access point device based on the channel-in-usesignal; determining, via a load balancing component, a communicationvolume on each of the first set of channels within the spectrum ofchannels in the radar band and the second set of channels within thespectrum of channels in the radar band; generating, via the loadbalancing component, an instruction to instruct the first access pointdevice and the second access point device to not use the in-use channel;transmitting, via the communication component, the instruction to thefirst access point device and the second access point device, andreceiving, via the communication component, a communication signal fromone of the first access point device and the second access point deviceas a result of the transmitting of the instruction.
 18. Thenon-transitory, tangible, computer-readable medium of claim 17, whereinthe radar band is a radar band of IEEE Standard 802.11h.